Boating Basics: Choosing an Anchor Anchors are available in a wide variety of styles and materials across many brands. Experienced boaters will probably know what works best for their vessels. For new boat owners, however, the selection can be overwhelming. Let’s start by looking at the four most common style anchors: Fluke Anchors. Commonly referred to as a “Danforth-style” anchor, fluke anchors are available in galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and even rubber-coated. Fluke anchors can either have a solid shank or slotted with a slip ring installed. Plow Anchors. These anchors have excellent holding capabilities but are difficult to store without a bow pulpit. Mushroom Anchors. Popular for PWCs and small, lightweight boats, mushroom anchors are available in three styles. The standard mushroom shape, a river style that has claws, and a Ritcher that has a slip ring and spikes. Navy Anchors. Navy Anchors are weight-based anchors with short heavy flukes for additional holding power. The navy anchor style is ideal for larger vessels. Boat Anchor Construction In addition to anchor style, you’ll also want to consider what material you want your anchor constructed of. Galvanized steel anchors have high tensile strength that makes them the most popular choice among boaters. Stainless steel is also very popular for its durability and appearance on the bow when not in use; and cast-iron anchors really dig into the seabed for a strong hold. Boaters worried about scuffing their boat may consider a PVC-coated anchor. Greenfield manufactures a variety of anchors that are coated with a heavy-duty, long-lasting vinyl. The vinyl not only protects the finish of your boat, but also protects the anchor from corrosion.Which Anchor is Best for My Boat? There are quite a few factors to consider when choosing an anchor for your boat. Holding power is one of the most important determinations to make before purchasing an anchor. If your anchor doesn’t have sufficient holding power, you risk having your boat drag your anchor. Most manufacturers list their anchor’s holding power at normal wind conditions – or 30 knots. This is the standard recommendation for your main (or working) anchor. It’s important to remember that as wind speed doubles, the holding requirement quadruples. Make sure you consider the tide and wind conditions wherever you plan on boating. Another consideration is the bottom condition of the water you’ll be boating in. Anchors need to be able to properly set to properly tether a vessel and prevent drift. Below are some anchor recommendations based on seabed conditions: Sand – most seabeds are sandy and easy for anchors to penetrate for high-holding power. Fluke anchors and non-hinged scoop anchors are most often used in sand. Mud – deeper penetration is a requirement for muddy bottoms. Anchor designs with a broader shake fluke angle are a popular choice for these conditions. Rock & Coral – plow-shaped or grapnel anchors are best for these conditions due to their high structural strength. Shale/Clay/Grassy – in these conditions, the weight of the anchor is more important than its design. Navy anchors are optimal for cutting through vegetation.Anchoring Tips Have Multiple Anchors If you have the space for them, it doesn’t hurt to have multiple anchors onboard. In addition to your main anchor, you can also have a lunch hook anchor or a storm anchor. A “lunch hook” should be able to hold your boat in a 15 knot breeze and can be used when the crew is monitoring the anchor. A storm anchor should be able to hold in 45 knots and can be used when the crew is sleeping or in the event of high winds. Use Adequate Scope Scope is the length of anchor line relative to the distance from your boat’s deck to the sea bottom. We recommend a minimum 5:1 scope ratio. At a 10:1 ratio, the holding power will double, and at 3:1 you will give up a significant amount of holding power and may experience problems setting the anchor. Here’s an example of determining how much anchor line you need: if the water depth is 10 feet, and it is 3 feet from the top of the water to your bow cleat, you would multiply 13 X 5 = 65. So you would need to put out 65 feet of rope. Anchor Retrieval To retrieve your anchor, slowly move the boat to a position directly over the anchor, pulling in the line as you go. Snub the line on a cleat and power backwards slowly to pull the anchor out of the bottom. Do not power forward, as that will require more energy and put heavy loads on the anchor and gear. Whether you’re purchasing your first anchor, or replacing a damaged one, Wholesale Marine is here to help. If you need assistance in finding the optimal anchor for your vessel, give us a call. Our team is here Monday-Friday, 9AM to 4PM EST at (877) 388-2628.
